I don't know why, but I have known quite a few murderers in my life. these people haven't been friends, but a few have been acquaintances, and one was a childhood enemy. And tonight, I found out from my wife that there is another name to go onto the list, as this morning a guy shot his girlfriend and then himself. She lives at the moment, so the name on the list is only pencilled in.
Murder-suicide seems to be getting more common and I reckon it is going to rise further in the coming years, as more and more people (especially men) struggle with managing their emotions, and have inadequate tools to deal with an increasingly volatile life experience. Essentially society is failing. And society is failing, because we are failing as humans. And as a result, acts of violence increase.
It is sadly predictable.
Violence isn't new to humanity, but I think it should be considered a measure in how far we have risen, or how far we have fallen. If we compare ourselves to a couple thousands years ago, all is pretty decent. But if we compare ourselves to a decade or two ago, things aren't as rosy. For instance we can say that murder rates have come down, but at the same time, murder-suicides have increased. What does this say? We can also say that compared to a long time ago domestic violence is nowhere near as bad today as it was, but it is also increasing now.
As a measure of humanity, are we getting better?
And while murder-suicide and even domestic violence are extreme examples, what it indicates is a shift in the normal distribution toward increasing violence. The curve is moving in the wrong direction and the "new normal" is one where violence among normal people, is increasing. And it is showing in other demographics also, where in many countries, youth crime is increasing steadily, and that crime is surprise, surprise - getting more violent.
Yet, most people believe that they are outside of the normal, that they themselves would never resort to violence themselves, without realising that the majority of the people that did resort to violence, once believed the same thing about themselves. The "I would never" is generally said when one isn't under the various pressure factors that would make it possible, and the conditions are changing.
The average doesn't have to shift very much, to push those on the edge over into the extremes. And the more that happens, the more it will happen, as with each cycle the middle moves further toward an extreme. And unfortunately, it isn't in the direction of love, it is heading the other way.
But, if we want change, we have to be the change. And to be the change that doesn't lead to an increasing level of violence, we have to tend to ourselves, and actively move in the other direction with intention. We have to make sure that we are in control of ourselves, and fortify against losing control. We need to ensure that,
we don't get triggered.
But getting triggered seems to be one of the joys in life for many these days, with especially the younger generations "forced to react" to anything that makes them feel slightly uncomfortable, or goes against their often misplaced beliefs. And then, the media amplifies it, and sets up polarising dialogue in order to cash in on the emotional clickbait they create. And we keep buying into it, because let's face it, most people have pretty shitty social relationships, and carry a lot of emotional baggage around from the past. And it all mounts up, with cost of living pressures, employment pressures, loneliness, depression, and a lack of meaning; And people snap.
Are you a future snapper?
How do you know?
Taraz
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